Corn picker lifting mechanism



Aug. 14, 1945.

. J. B. HAYES ET AL CORN PICKER LIFTING MECHANI'SM Filed July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INvEN JON B. HAYES Patented Aug. 14, 1945 Davenport, Iowa, assignors .to Deere sa Colrnj A v pany', Moline', Ill.y,'a'corporat1bn of Illinois of invention liasfto do with the yprovision of a self-interrupting 'clutch mechanism driven from' one of' the' supporting Wheels vof the implement through 'a flexible L endless power transmitting membershas a 'chain'. Another specic object of this linventionrelates to the provision of a wheelact'uat'ed lifting'mech. anism mounted within the 'hub o'f the support; ing wheel and connected through suitable lost motion connectionsto the'gatherers," whereby the latter are raised to transport positionfrom any position of adjustment. l I

These and other objects'and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in-the' artA aftera consideration 'of the following de-v Y scripti'on, 'in which reference is had ings appended hereto, in which Figure 1 is' a'side 'elevational view of 'a'co'rn harvester of the towedtype embodying the prin`` ciples of the present invention;

'Figure 2 is a 'fragmentary' plan View, drawn to an enlarged scale, s lioxa'v'in'g the details of the tO th' draw-l ure 1;

Figure 3 isa fragmentary sectional elevational v'lewtaken along a line 3f3 inFigure`2 and drawn tok an'even fuitherfeniargd scale;r Figure 4 is 'a sectional elevational view ofthe clutch mechanism, takenv along 'a linefllf4` in Figure 2 and drawn to the scale of Figure 3;'

Figure 5 is a `side elevational View of a modified corn harvester andlifting mechanism embodying the principles oflthe'present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentaryplan View of the lifting mechanism shown in the embodiment of Figure'5; and 'y y Figure 7 is a side elevational view taken in section along a line 'I-`- 'l inv Figure 6.

Referring now to vthe drawings and morepar- A ticularly' to Figures 1-4',`.i'nclusive, the implement,

meral ID, is a Vcern-liar-rester andlfcompris'esa generally horonta'lly -dispsedfdraft frame Il extending' longitudinally fand having a suitable hitch device jl'lsuch -asj-a elevisgpn the `forward end Ithereof for the purpose bf "connecting the implement to a tractor Orbther draft-device, (not shown); `The implement -'isprovided with conventional-gatherers V'IS'fwh'ich are''xed yto and supported otratrahsversetlyidisposeldaxle il in the form of a hollow pipe 'to whieh'suitable brackets l 5 are krigid-ly conneeted':fersupporting the :gatherers 'I3'.4 'Tneaxleglris journaledmin bearings ls at laterally' emmsitel sides 'por the draft frame l'l, providing "for rotation of the axle I4 about 'its majoraxis relativeftd ,the `frame Il. "A stub :axle 1'1 'extends' outwardly" from eitiier'end of the pipe axle 14' anais rigidly fixed to thetlattejr" for supporting 'a 4pan 'or laterally spaced supporting wheels I .8`, "I 9,' journaled oh the Stub axles l1,l 'respe ':t`i"irely".`

[A huskng 'box25 containing suitablehusling' mechanism, is journaled at its "forward endon the axle I4 4.and supported `at its rearward .end

on apn-tee za carried ,on .a rearwardiexnsion 21 of the draftframe H, 'Thusfit isevidentthat when ,the axle 'L4 is shift'e.dfangu larly in. a 'counter-clockwise direction,V v as viewed Lin-Figure 4"1, thelgatherers .L3 are raisedaboutfthe'transverse axis oftheaxleflth 4 The wheeli wmprse'ehzu the stub axle H, :and la .pluralityofglspol'es 3l Spokes 'arev xed to vthe wheel A.fr-1111.1; en: which, is mounted a Y conventional lpneumatic rubber tire 32. The .hub `3.0 :is hollow; adacent its innerlside and `is .provided with a plurality .0f ;radially J.inwardly extending teeth I3,5 spaoedircumferentiallgy around thednsidepof thehub. The open end fof the hub adjacent the;v teethiis covered byya closure 'plate 35.,jwhich' is mounted on its own hub .31, formed. .inteerallystherewithi and journaled on the stub aXIeIL; The plate-:36 :is in the form :of la' disk of substantially.thesameioutside diameter as the 'nnb' 3u lefr'dept-5for 2af pair-of diametrically .oppositely estendingars 38, each ofwhliehislprovided with afhnotch 393i The Vplate asi-and 'hub 31 thus -c'onstitutej'lthe 'normally stationary clutch n ienf'iber-l Lof f salti-'interruptingclutchmechanism of well-'knownnsign and op- 4 Ine nate 36l is normally. held 'lagainstiirotaton 'by mea1s of 'a detent armi forel-ank, having a bearing portion 41 jeurnaled infaibearingsuport 42, whichis fixed to the hitch' frame memberll.'

A detent roller 43 is journaled on the end of the crank arm and is adapted to be received by either of the notches 39 to hold the plate 36 against rotation relative to the stub axle I1.

On the inside of the plate 36 is pivoted a clutch dog, on a pivot bolt 46. One end of the dog 45 carries a clutch roller 41 journaled on a pin 48 and the opposite end of the d og 45 beyond the pivot bolt 46 `is connected to a Spring 49, which is anchored to the plate 36. The spring 49 urges the clutch roller 41 into engagement with the teeth 35, and when it is in such engagement, power4 is transmitted from the normally Vrotating jhub f i 30 through the roller 41, dog 45 and pivot bolt 46 to the plate 36 to rotate the latter therewith. 'I'he dog 45 is controlled by an actuating arm 50 piv otally mounted on the outer sideofthe plate 36 by means of the pivot bolt 46. ,The actuating arm is also connected to the pin 48 which extends through a slot 5| in the plate 36. The opposite ends of the arm 58 are disposed adjacent the slots or notches 39 respectively, and are adapted to be engaged bythe detent roller 43 when the latter' drops into eithervof the notches39.. In this position theclutch roller 4,1is out of engagement with the teeth 35, but" when the arm 40'is swung to disengage the detent roller 43 from the notch 39, thespring 49 forces the clutch roller 41 into engagement'withy one of lthe teeth 35, ina manner Awell-known'to' those skilled in the art.

A camrningfmember in the form ofan eccentric is rgidlyflxed to' the inner end of the hub' 31' and'is' disposed in engagement with a roller 56 journaled on a bolt 51, which is carried on a lifting arm 58- The lifting arm 58 Ais'pivotally'mounted by meansl of a bolt 59 on a bracket 60, rigidly xed vto' the"rar extension 21 of the hitch frame I I, providing for vertical swinging' movement of the arm 58 as the roller 56 rides over the camming disc 55. The'forward end of the lifting arm 58 is pivotallyvconnected by a bolt 6| to an arm 62 fixed rigidly'to the outer end of theaxle The mechanism is vshown in the vdrawings in the raised position, in which the forward ends of the gatherers I3 are'raisedlabove the ground in transport position,'the roller 56 being in engagement with the high point'of the cam 55. To lower the gatherers I3,thear`m 48 is swungoforwardly 'by means of a control rod 65 swingably connected to a plate 66, which is weldedto' the arm'40; A forwardrpullon the' control rod 65 disengages the roller 43 fromthe notch 39, allowing the dog 45 to swing the roller' 41 into engagement with the teeth-35 and Vcausing the clutch mechanism to rotate 'the cam 55, vwhich lowers the lifting arm 58 land allows the arm 62 and axle |4 to swing in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig-v ure 3, to lower the gatherers I3. The cam 55 and plate 36 always rotates one-half a revolution',-

until the detent roller'43 drops into the opposite' notch 39, stopping the movement of the normally stationaryl plate member 36. A second pull on the ,control rod .65 disengages the roller 43 and allows a ,secondhalf-revolution of the plate 36, bringing the cam 55 .back to the position shown in the drawings. The roller 43 is urged against the plate36by a spring 61 connected between the plate 66 andthe lifting arm 5 8. n ,1 i

A. manually Operable adjusting `lever .10v isi-ivf otally mounted on the forward end of the Ahitch frame member I I and is connected by a. rearwardly extending rod 1| with the, axle I4 through anarm 12. The armi: is 'rigidly bolted td'fthe axle,y I 4 and extenjds ldownwardvly: therefromlzand is provided with an aperture 13 through which the rod 1| extends. A stop member 14 in the form of a nut is threaded on the rear end of the rod 1| and engages the back of the arm 12 to limit the extent of downward swinging movement of the gatherers I3, in order to hold the latter at any desired distance above the ground. The lever 1|| is held in adjusted position by means of a latch 15, controlled by a hande lever 16 mounted on the handle of the lever 10 in the usual manner.

"-'Thus it is evident that both the power lift mechanism and the manuallyadjustable lever 16 are connected to the axle I4 by lost motion connections, so that operation of either the mech- 'anism or the lever can be accomplished independent of the other. When the lever 10 is set to limit the downward movement of the gatherers I3 to a certain height above the ground, the arm 12 swingsdown against the stop 14 during lowering movement of the clutch mechanism, and then the completion of the movement of the clutch mechanism merely acts to swing the cam 55fdownward1y away from the roller 56, but regardless of the manual setting of the lever 16, the cam 55 can always swing upjinltoengagement with the roller 56 to lift the gatherers to transport position. Furthermore, when the axle is angularly shifted to raise the gatherers from any position fl operation, the arm 12 merely 'slides relativeV to the rod 1| away from' the stop 14.

lReferring now to the embodiment shown in Figures 5, 6 yand 7, the'self-intefrrupting clutch mechanism, indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 8l),` is not formed integrally with the hub of .the wheel`l9, butis mounted ahead of the axle and the hitch frame member |y| on a bracket 8 |`.y vIn'this embodiment, the clutch mechanism 80 comprises a shaft 82 supported on the bracket 8|, on` which the normally rotating clutch member 83 is journaled. The member 8 3 is driven by a sprocket`84, mounted thereon, over whicha nexibleI endless powerl transmitting member 85 in the form of a chain'is trained. The chain 85 is also trained over a sprocket 86 fixed to the hub 81 of the wheel I9, and thus is driven continuouslyduring 'forward movement of theimplement. The inner side of the rotating member 83 is provided with clutch teeth 35' whichare engaged by Y the usual clutch dog as in theiirstfembodiment.

parfof arms sz-piv0ted to a bracket szon 'the' hitch frame member ||I by means of a bolt94. The 'arm' 92 is controlled by. a rope 95, the forward end'o'f ,which'is supported'on the handle of the lever 16 and the arm 92 is urged into holding engagement by means of a spring 96.1" '4 The normally stationary member 88 'of the clutch mechanism 88 is provided with 'a crank' pin |00, formed integrally therewith, ltowhich is"conne`cted" a rodV I0| .extendingv rearwardly tl'irou'gh an aperture |02 in' an'aril |03, which is rigidly fixed to Ithe axle' I4'. "A Stop member H14, in the form of 'a' nut is 4screwed onto the 4rear AendI xQI.A the `rod which is threaded for'this' purpose. VAThe Init l |04 serves asv a stop which "eri- I gages the back of the arm '|03"to"pr`vide a lost motion connection therewith for the purposes exblamed 'irl @wenn 'with the mi embadieet gisement 1: agricult relai-implement comprising ai transversely disposed: axle; supporting wheels! jcarri-lineairthereon,1 atbedya'fmernber-f rigidly iixed` tm said-'1 axle."andfsniftahlangularly therewith: 5 abouti-the rnaj or? axis @off the: axle,l a ihitc'h'l rmenref berfswingablylconnected with' 1sai'daxle by means-1 providing-*fort relative. movement'L aboutfsaid airis;l anI'arm-irigidlyfixed to said axle?!-povverlliftil means driven #byg'one'lofl saidfwheels and connect; 10 ed -b'etweeni ls aid i hitclif mem-ben4 and said 'arml to angltl'arlif-1 shifthsaid axle/'i and saidbodyf member4 relative 'saidl'ii-tbli member."

2. In a corn harvester"''coniprisirigJV frame-ins cludin'g# 'a f orwardlyfextending draft portion,v l' a transverse Wheel supportedaxie Ij ournaled' there: onlarid" gatherers fixed to said axle andisliifta'ble` angularlyl therewith relativeNYA te saidf frame-f to raisesaidgatherers; anfarmlxedtov-said'i axle; apowe-r liit mechanism, 'ande means connectingV said mechanis'rn- -li'etWee'n'f-said. trarne and saidV arnfron'fsaid'axlev fori optionallyA rotating' atl-ie. latel f ter= thrOllgh 'af'par't of" af revolution vtoraise said ga-tlierers.- 'l' 'i "f 3l r Iiia corn lha-rvesterr comprising-- au frame in clndiiiga* forwardly vexten ding'- dra-it' portion," a l transversewheel'fsupportediaxle journaled-there--- on'- and= gatherers,v fixed toI said axleand shift-v able' angularly therewith# relativehto saidVv frametdraise'rs'aidgatherers, arm mean's'xedtof-s'a-id 30 axle', a-pcwerliftnrechanisnr andafmanuallyaa justablenrechfanism meuntedl on said fram'eg'- and lost `r'r'iniziorr -Irileans connecting earslo'f` saidpoWi-rI lift' mechanism'- and said manually adjustable mechanism with said armneans"orsai'dl axle providingfor Vshifting the; latter angularly by either` orJ said mechanisms v-indeperrdent ofl ea'cl'il y other.- f -,r. va I 4:* In a'- corn harvester' comprising a* frame;` a transverse Wheel'isupportedfaxlefjournaledthere; 40 oni* gatherers fixed {tofsaid-axle andjshiftahle an-"g gularlyltlierewitn reljativefto l said frame` to raise said-v gatherers', a pair or arms xedit'e lsaid axle and Having fa'pertures' therein; a 'pair f'r'od's exe'Y tending through? said;l apertures, a power lift mechanisml conneeteiii'to one of said rods, a manually adjustable lever connected to the other of said'rods, and a stop on each of said rods engageable with the respective arm when each r'od is moved in one direction.

5. In a corn harvester comprising a frame including a forwardly extending draft portion, a transverse axle journaled thereon, gatherers fixed to said axle and shiftable angularly therewith relative to said -frame to raise said gatherers, a supporting wheel journaled on said axle, a pair of lever arms rigidly fixed to said axle, a self-interrupting lift mechanism including a normally rotating part driven by said Wheel and a normally stationary part optionally driven by said wheel driven part, lost motion means for connecting said normally stationary part with one of said lever arms to shift the axle angularly to raise said gatherers, a manually adjustable lever on said frame, and lost motion means connecting said lever with said other lever arm to limit the return movement of said axle to hold the gatherers at a predetermined lower limit.

6. In a corn harvester comprising a frame, a transverse axle journaled thereon, gatherers xed to said axle and shiftable angularly therewith relative to said frame to raise said gatherers, a supporting Wheel journaled on said axle, a selfinterrupting clutch mechanism journaled on said frame and including a normally rotating part,

exiible endless: povveey transmitting: means@ conz nectingiisaid' partir with :saidf' wheel-1l td berydriven" therehyt;v a normally stationary: part. oprtionally drivenhylsaddtfrotating;part; afcrankion zsaidfstastionaryl'part; an airmiixedion*saidaxlefxand havevl ingiarr. aperture; .airodtconnected xwith :saldo crank l and extending through said-aperture; andeaifstopf* onisaidirodonithe oppositersi'de'eofzsaid arms` y 1 7 .In a vcorn r harvestc'ei"v comprising-:afa frame; a.: transverse'. aiderjournaled: thereony gatherers: fixed if togsaidzaxle.V and 'shiftablefangularlythere- I With--relativeito said frame: to: -raisesaidrgatherers,` afl supporting.: Wheel? journaled on: said axles and z having' a hub; a"Self-interrupting; clutchnneche anism ldisposedzwithin"said `hub and z'driven byisaid i Wheel; andLmea-ns:A operativelyt connecting` said'- mechanismf-wlith said axlei lfor. optionallyy shifting theflatter angularly! to raisersaid gatherers 8.\,In'al corn harvester' comprising aframe,- ay transverse axlejournaled rthereon, gatherersfxed torsaid axlel and shiftable. angularlyftherewithy relative -to said? framelrto raise;` said gatherers, a"Y supporting .Wheel journaled on said -axleqand hav-M ing;k arhub,l a iself-interrupting1clutch :mechanism A disposed .within said hub' and driven bysaid wheel, lost: motion meansoperatively; connectingsaid meohanismrewith said axle for optionally) shiftingthe latter" angularly* toraisesaid gatl'ierersyl a.

manually;v controlled leverI mounted on said frame,l and'. :lostmotion lmeanssconnecting;l said leven-With said :axleto limit the-return movement-of the latterwhenithegatherers-'aireloweredi,, l 9;.In a -corn 1 harvesterY comprising aframe., a-

transverse axle journaled thereon, gatherers .nxed

ed. onesaidfframe-.and .connected with saidiax-ley. said liftingl member being normally disposedim engagementwith said camming lnernbenfoi/'.rtransr mitting power-l from ythe latter; to .shift saidaxle.` angularly Yto lift-said gatherers 10. In a corn harvester comprising a frame, a transverse axle journaled thereon, gatherers fixed to said axle and shiftable angularly therewith relative to said frame to raise said gatherers, a supporting Wheel journaled on said axle and having a hub, a plurality of radially extending teeth disposed Within said hub, a clutch member jour-A naled on said axle adjacent said hub, a dog pivotally mounted on said clutch member and engageable with said teeth, control means for controlling said dog and holding said member against rotation, and lost motion means connecting said clutch member with said axle to rotate the latter.

11. In a corn harvester comprising a frame,v a transverse axle journaled thereon, gatherers fixed to said axle and shiftable angularly therewith relative to said frame to raise said gatherers, a supporting wheel journaled on said axle and having a hub provided with an open side, a plurality of radially extending teeth spaced circumferentially around the inside of said hub, a closure plate over said open side and journaled on said axle, a clutch dog pivoted on said plate and engageable with said teeth, control means for controlling said dog and holding said member against rotation, and lost motion means connecting said closure plate with said axle to rotate the latter.

12. In a corn harvester comprising a frame, a transverse axle journaled thereon, gatherers fixed to said axle and shiftable angularly therewith relative to said frame to raise said gatherers, a supporting Wheel journaled on saidaxle and having a hub provided with an open side,` a plu-j rality of radially extending teeth spaced circum-i ferentially around th'e inside of said'hub, aclo-A sure plate over said open side and journaled on.

said axle, a clutch dog pivoted on said plate and engageable with said teeth, a camming member attached to said plate and driven thereby, a lift-` ing member engageable with said camming member and pivotally mounted on said frame, means connecting said lifting member with said axle. to transmit power from said cam when the latnism connected with a suitable source of power and having an actuating member optionally operated between fixed limits, lost motion means connecting said mechanismbetween said frame and said lever arm means to swing said axle over l a fixed range corresponding to the fixed limits of said mechanism when raising said gatherersbut permitting the lowering movement of the latter to be interrupted at any point within said range without affecting the movement of said lifting mechanism, and manually adjustable stop means engageable with' said lever arm means for interrupting said lowering movement of the gatherers at selected points within said range.

14. In a corn harvester comprising a, frame, a

transverse axle journaled thereon and gatherers" fixed to said axle and shiftable angularly therewith to raise said gatherers, a self-interrupting lift mechanism connected with a suitable source' of power and having a normally rotating part, a rotatable actuating member, control means for optionally connecting said member to said part for rotation through a predetermined number of degrees of angular movement, means for disconnecting said member at the end of said antular movement, and disengageable means for locking said actuating member at its disconnected position, al manually adjustable lever mounted on said frame and having a lost motion connection with said gatherers serving as a stop to arrest downward movement of the latter but permitting upward movement thereof, and a lost motion connection between said actuating member and said gatherers providing for lifting the latter by rotation of said member but permitting interruption of the downward movement of said gatherers by said lever connection without aiecting the movement of said actuating member,

15. In a corn harvester comprising a frame, a transverse axle journaled thereon and gatherers fixed to said axle and shiftable angularly therewith to raise said gatherers, a. self-interrupting lift mechanism connected with a suitable source of power and having a normally rotating part. a rotatable actuating member, control means for optionally connecting said member to said part,

for rotation through a predetermined number of degrees of angular movement, means for disconnecting said mem-ber at the end of said angular movement, and disengageable means for locking said actuating member at its disconnected position, a crank on said actuating member, an arm fixed to said axle and having an aperture, a rod connected to said crank and extending through said aperture, a stop on said rod on the opposite side of said arm. and adjustable stop means for arresting downward movement of said gatherers at selected points within the range of movement of the latter.

16.' The combination set forth' in claim 1, including the further provisions that said power lift means comprises a normally rotating part rotatably supported on said hitch member, ilexible endless power transmitting means connecting said part with one of said wheels to be driven by the latter, a normally stationary part optionally driven by said rotating part, and a connection between said stationary part and said arm.

JOHN B. HAYES. RUSSELL L. DORT. 

